Satellite receiver/router, system, and method of use

Abstract

This specification discloses a satellite transmission system for transmission of TCP/IP compatible packets from a head end computer through a satellite uplink, an extraterrestrial satellite, a satellite downlink, and an integrated satellite receiver/router for outputting of the TCP/IP compatible packets through a port on the receiver/router onto a computer LAN or WAN. The system may include an Internet or telecommunications backchannel. The receiver becomes router enabled by means of a removable insertion Ethernet/Router insertion card inserted into a slot in the receiver, although the transmission system may be used to simultaneously transmit a variety of other services through the receiver by use of other service slots in the receiver. The Ethernet/Receiver supports the IGMPv2 Multicasting (querier and non querier modes), standard TCP/IP (including UDP and Telnet), and SNMP protocols.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A satellite receiver card comprising in combination: A. a circuit board;   B. a receiver backplane connector on the board, said connector being removably insertable within a satellite receiver to receive a data stream from the receiver;   C. an output member connected to the board providing an Ethernet output port for the board; and   D. an Ethernet processor mounted on the board to receive at least a portion of the data stream and output TCP/IP packets within the stream to the Ethernet output port on the output member, said Ethernet processor including IP addressing filters, whereby TCP/IP packets are processed by said IP addressing filters prior to being output through said Ethernet output port.   
     
     
       2. The receiver card of claim 1 also including an IP compatible router on the circuit board. 
     
     
       3. The receiver card of claim 1 wherein the Ethernet port on the card is in cooperative communication with an IGMP compatible router mounted within the satellite receiver. 
     
     
       4. The receiver card of claim 1 also including an IGMP compatible router on the circuit board. 
     
     
       5. The receiver card of claim 1 wherein the Ethernet port on the receiver card is in cooperative communication with an IP compatible router mounted within the satellite receiver. 
     
     
       6. The receiver card of claim 3 wherein the Ethernet port on the receiver card is in cooperative communication with an IP compatible router mounted within the satellite receiver. 
     
     
       7. The receiver card of claim 3 also having a IP compatible router on the receiver card. 
     
     
       8. The receiver card of claim 1 also having an SNMP compatible processing unit on the receiver card. 
     
     
       9. The receiver card of claim 1 wherein the Ethernet processor is adapted to receive and forward the TCP/IP packets received from said portion of said data stream without re-assembling the TCP/IP packets. 
     
     
       10. The receiver card of claim 2 wherein the Ethernet processor is adapted to receive and forward the TCP/IP packets received from said portion of said data stream without re-assembling the TCP/IP packets. 
     
     
       11. The receiver card of claim 3 wherein the Ethernet processor is adapted to receive and forward the TCP/IP packets received from said portion of said data stream without re-assembling the TCP/IP packets. 
     
     
       12. The receiver card of claim 4 wherein the Ethernet processor is adapted to receive and forward the TCP/IP packets received from said portion of said data stream without re-assembling the TCP/IP packets. 
     
     
       13. The receiver card of claim 5 wherein the Ethernet processor is adapted to receive and forward the TCP/IP packets received from said portion of said data stream without re-assembling the TCP/IP packets. 
     
     
       14. The receiver card of claim 6 wherein the Ethernet processor is adapted to receive and forward the TCP/IP packets received from said portion of said data stream without re-assembling the TCP/IP packets. 
     
     
       15. The receiver card of claim 7 wherein the Ethernet processor is adapted to receive and forward the TCP/IP packets received from said portion of said data stream without re-assembling the TCP/IP packets. 
     
     
       16. The receiver card of claim 8 wherein the Ethernet processor is adapted to receive and forward the TCP/IP packets received from said portion of said data stream without re-assembling the TCP/IP packets. 
     
     
       17. The receiver card of claim 1 wherein (i) the connector on the receiver card is removably insertable into a slot in the external periphery of the satellite receiver and (ii) the backplane connector on the card is thereby removably mountable onto a mating backplane connector on a board within the satellite receiver to receive said data stream from said receiver. 
     
     
       18. The receiver card of claim 2 wherein (i) the connector on the receiver card is removably insertable into a slot in the external periphery of the satellite receiver and (ii) the backplane connector on the card is thereby removably mountable onto a mating backplane connector on a board within the satellite receiver to receive said data stream from said receiver. 
     
     
       19. The receiver card of claim 4 wherein (i) the connector on the receiver card is removably inserable into a slot in the external periphery of the satellite receiver and (ii) the backplane connector on the card is thereby removably mountable onto a mating backplane connector on a board within the satellite receiver to receive said data stream from said receiver. 
     
     
       20. The receiver card of claim 8 wherein (i) the connector on the receiver card is removably insertable into a slot in the external periphery of the satellite receiver and (ii) the backplane connector on the card is thereby removably mountable onto a mating backplane connector on a board within the satellite receiver to receive said data stream from said receiver. 
     
     
       21. The receiver card of claim 9 wherein (i) the connector on the receiver card is removably insertable into a slot in the external periphery of the satellite receiver and (ii) the backplane connector on the card is thereby removably mountable onto a mating backplane connector on a board within the satellite receiver to receive said data stream from said receiver. 
     
     
       22. The receiver card of claim 10 wherein (i) the connector on the receiver card is removably insertable into a slot in the external periphery of the satellite receiver and (ii) the backplane connector on the card is thereby removably mountable onto a mating backplane connector on a board within the satellite receiver to receive said data stream from said receiver. 
     
     
       23. The receiver card of claim 11 wherein (i) the connector on the receiver card is removably insertable into a slot in the external periphery of the satellite receiver and (ii) the backplane connector on the card is thereby removably mountable onto a mating backplane connector on a board within the satellite receiver to receive said data stream from said receiver. 
     
     
       24. The receiver card of claim 16 wherein (i) the connector on the receiver card is removably insertable into a slot in the external periphery of the satellite receiver and (ii) the backplane connector on the card is thereby removably mountable onto a mating backplane connector on a board within the satellite receiver to receive said data stream from said receiver.